personal ocean race gear
- Thread starter Benytoe
- Start date
interesting. I figure we'd just pull the poor souls toothOrthodontic wax. If you ever lose a filling, or break a tooth, you will thank me. Also you can sell it for great profit to any of your fellow misanthropes in case they have an adventure.
I dunno man. I had a tooth die on me on a Saturday, by Sunday I was thinking a quick extraction would have been preferable to the pain. Monday and they drilled. Not sure there'd be an option on the boat.
Christian
Super Anarchist
Nah - you are already carrying quick cure epoxy in the repair kit - works a charmOrthodontic wax. If you ever lose a filling, or break a tooth, you will thank me. Also you can sell it for great profit to any of your fellow misanthropes in case they have an adventure.
Tunnel Rat
Super Anarchist
- 3,260
- 538
A Leatherman or similar on a lanyard, but that should be standard kit......
Elegua
Generalissimo
Lono
Anarchist
- 831
- 18
LB 15
Cunt
My 2 cents after a bunch of offshore races and a lot of cruising in the South Pacific, FWIW:
1) Music - Load up your phone with a good playlist. Depending on the boat sound system a small bluetooth speaker for tunes that fits in a cup holder can be great. Even if they have installed speakers in the cockpit, the sound through that system can reverberate through the hull and disturb the off-watch in the aft cabin. A little bluetooth cupholder speaker 2 feet from your head up top can be less obtrusive and still get the job done. Waterproof of course. Some guys watch movies but off watch I sleep. I don't get the guys who want to race silently listening to the sounds of the ocean or whatever. Shit gets old after a day. Figure out what your watch likes and have a few different mixes available. Ear buds for your speed metal or gangster rap of whatever if they aint feeling it.
2) Goretex socks were a revelation for me when it gets ugly. No more wet socks into wet boots. A soaking wet boot feels just the same as a dry one with those socks. But transpac is warm so not as big a deal maybe?
3) Water bottle - A recent upgrade I have started seeing is the water bottles with a carbon filter inside them. Not so useful if you are squirting that flavoring crap in the water (barf) but after drinking a lot of funky tank water I think it is a worthwhile investment. If your boat is running a watermaker you are probably just fine without one. I think I get bad luck with race boats. Almost every offshore race the water has been borderline toxic for some reason or another.
4) Padded shorts - After the last race and aching bum broke down and bought a pair. Though they are stupid expensive for what they are, you will regret not spending the dosh when that rail butt sets in. I suppose you could buy a cushion, but do you really want to be the guy that walks on board with a freaking cushion in hand? If you want that let the skipper know in advance. Be prepared to be told to HTFU
5) Gopro and rail mounts and head thingie. They are getting cheapish.
What boat are you on? I am doing this one as my first. PM me to discuss if you like
1) Music - Load up your phone with a good playlist. Depending on the boat sound system a small bluetooth speaker for tunes that fits in a cup holder can be great. Even if they have installed speakers in the cockpit, the sound through that system can reverberate through the hull and disturb the off-watch in the aft cabin. A little bluetooth cupholder speaker 2 feet from your head up top can be less obtrusive and still get the job done. Waterproof of course. Some guys watch movies but off watch I sleep. I don't get the guys who want to race silently listening to the sounds of the ocean or whatever. Shit gets old after a day. Figure out what your watch likes and have a few different mixes available. Ear buds for your speed metal or gangster rap of whatever if they aint feeling it.
2) Goretex socks were a revelation for me when it gets ugly. No more wet socks into wet boots. A soaking wet boot feels just the same as a dry one with those socks. But transpac is warm so not as big a deal maybe?
3) Water bottle - A recent upgrade I have started seeing is the water bottles with a carbon filter inside them. Not so useful if you are squirting that flavoring crap in the water (barf) but after drinking a lot of funky tank water I think it is a worthwhile investment. If your boat is running a watermaker you are probably just fine without one. I think I get bad luck with race boats. Almost every offshore race the water has been borderline toxic for some reason or another.
4) Padded shorts - After the last race and aching bum broke down and bought a pair. Though they are stupid expensive for what they are, you will regret not spending the dosh when that rail butt sets in. I suppose you could buy a cushion, but do you really want to be the guy that walks on board with a freaking cushion in hand? If you want that let the skipper know in advance. Be prepared to be told to HTFU
5) Gopro and rail mounts and head thingie. They are getting cheapish.
What boat are you on? I am doing this one as my first. PM me to discuss if you like
PIL66 - XL2
Super Anarchist
I'm not sure I'm living in the same racing world as most on here, you did say racing right..?.... bean bags / games / cards / music.... really.. May as well take a recliner and big screen TV....
My call on teeth is keep as many as you can for as long as you can ... never pull a tooth that can be saved.
The best thing is a personal AIS Transponder... if you fall off, this is the thing that saves you. Then a PLB + knife / leatherman all kept in a bumbag (Zhik make a good one) so it can be accessed easily and taken off easily to sleep. Good Spinlock PFD or similar.. Thermals for the start.. sea boots with long sox x 3 ... A beanie / balaclava combo.. hat..... Head lamp with either red or blue light (I like blue)... Personal water bottle with lanyard and you name / number on it .
Music is a personal thing and I only listen in the rack.. an external phone battery can be good.
Benytoe
Member
- Thread starter
- #33
yes bean bags for sitting in a cal 40 with a tiller. I have the letterman on my Spinlock PFD with a required 3 point harness to the jack line. all the hats, gators, tech shirts, musto foulies, head light with red, thermo water bottle and a fucking smile on my face the whole 2225 miles!!
Leeroy Jenkins
Super Anarchist
When I did it we had shitty, cold weather for the first five days or so. Even worse on the delivery back to Victoria. I was very impressed how warm merino wool is and how ripe it doesn't get.
Some skippers don't like headlamps and some don't like headphones.
Some skippers don't like headlamps and some don't like headphones.
TUBBY
Anarchist
Buy the best wet gear you can afford. I don't feel the cold & have lived happily with coastal gear for years, (including my first 20 Hobarts). Finally bought some quality (HL) "Ocean" gear & couldn't believe the difference. 4 days to on a TP most of it at 20+ and DRY all the way!!! The old stuff kept me warm but damp.
As for the headlamps, personally I HATE them, when you say something to someone wearing one they look at you, & you get the light straight in your eyes, there goes any chance of seeing for a while. Yes I am usually a driver/trimmer so I now live up the back, but I have lived up the front and used a small torch. I have been using LED Lenser torches for about the last 10 years and recommend them highly. Just be aware that the small ones P2 will slip through the drain holes in your pockets (you don't need to ask how I know, it was brand new), & anything more than about a P4 need to be used carefully as they are very bright.
As for the headlamps, personally I HATE them, when you say something to someone wearing one they look at you, & you get the light straight in your eyes, there goes any chance of seeing for a while. Yes I am usually a driver/trimmer so I now live up the back, but I have lived up the front and used a small torch. I have been using LED Lenser torches for about the last 10 years and recommend them highly. Just be aware that the small ones P2 will slip through the drain holes in your pockets (you don't need to ask how I know, it was brand new), & anything more than about a P4 need to be used carefully as they are very bright.
Funslut
Member
+1 on the zhik boots if it's cold and a neck gaiter for the sun. Definitely something comfy to sit on and red lamps only. I prefer the smock style jackets as they're way less bulky and keep the water out
lighthouse keeper
New member
Phil if you do the Darwin to Ambon race they have been bags and warm weather.
The beers is cold and you get to call yourself an international sailor lol.
The beers is cold and you get to call yourself an international sailor lol.
Definitely.
Great idea: bring along extra junk to disengage from the race! Who needs to worry about silly old sail trim?
^^^^ THIS ^^^^ I could not agree more.
They also say "oh, but it's a red lens". That is no excuse, those lamps are typically super-bright.
